Compare Solar PV Installers
By John Swindells
17 Oct 2011
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Below is a list of Solar PV installation companies, most of which we have contacted for a quotation. We have included a diary of responses they gave, plus estimates or quotations.
We have also published a Solar PV Return on Investment spreadsheet, where you can put in your own numbers and make up your own mind how good the returns really might be.
You may also want to read the list of Solar Suppliers recommended by Good Energy.
- Feed-in Renewable Solutions http://feed-in.co.uk/ info@feed-in.co.uk Emailed on 16 Feb, they replied on 22 Feb for more information. Replied straight away. I tried calling them on 5 March, call was dropped and couldn't get through after that.
- Peninsula Renewable Energy (Cornwall) http://www.penenergy.co.uk/ @PenEnergy contact@penenergy.co.uk They contacted us on 24 Feb, we replied on 25 Feb. They've provided more background information on 1 March, and ask if we'd like a solar pv site assessment form for a firm quotation. PDF assessment form arrived on 7 March; I completed and returned (as JPGs!) on same day. Quotation supplied on 8 March: 2.66kWp, using 14 x Caymao 190 kWp panels and a Sungrow SG3 KTL inverter. Cost: £13580.
- Photon Energy http://photonenergy.co.uk/ info@photonenergy.co.uk Emailed on 28 Feb.
- Dulas Ltd http://www.dulas.org.uk/ @Dulas_Ltd Contacted on 28 Feb. They replied on 3 March, having passed details to Solar Focus Technologies.
- Solar Century http://www.solarcentury.co.uk/ Filled in online application form, on Feb 28. They passed my details to Evo Energy on 1 March.
- Evo Energy (Nottingham) http://www.evoenergy.co.uk/ @EvoEnergy info@evoenergy.co.uk They called us on 2 March, asking for more information. Chris Brooks called on 9 March, looked us up on Google Earth and gave a quote (subject to survey) of £15K for a 3.24kW (18x Sharp 180) system with an IG30 inverter, producing approx 2500kWh/yr. Five years labour & parts on their workmanship, 5 years on inverter, performance guarantee of 80% after 25 years. They'd need 25% up front, 75% on completion. They aren't on an assurance scheme - considered REIGA, but not happy that it's not underwritten or regulated by the FSA, so would be no comeback if the scheme failed. Quote received on March 10: 2.52kWp system (14 panel) that can generate 2007kWh/year of electricity will cost £12,880; 3.24kW system (18 panel) will generate 2,580kWh/yr and cost £15,061. Both systems use SHARP 180 NU (E1) panels. Following a call on March 24, an appointment was made for site survey on April 6. On April 6, Chris Brooke checked various dimensions and would provide an exact quote. He mentioned that we would need to notify the local network operator (EDF) if we exceed 3.6kW peak generation - which we would if we install a 3kW solar system and get our 1kW wind turbine working again. He also said that they favoured Sharp panels because of the company's excellent 25+ years in the UK; newcomers such as Ying-Li (Chinese company) were very much an unknown quantity and could not yet be relied upon to still be supplying spares and replacements for the lifetime of an installation. We received a new set of quotations on April 8, putting the 18 panel system (3.24kW peak) at £14800 fully installed and with a 5 year warranty on top of the manufacturers’ warranties.
- Mark Group http://www.markgroup.co.uk/ Filled in online request form on Feb 28. Missed a call on 3 March, called back on 4 March and was given an estimate of £14800 (inc VAT) for a 2x8 array of Sharp 175 panels (2.8kW, 2.3MWh/yr). Fromius inverter (5yr warranty) installed.
- Ren Energy Ltd (Norwich) http://www.renenergy.co.uk/ Completed online enquiry form on Feb 28. They replied on March 2, with some background information; they will check on Google Earth for a roof area estimate.
- Sundog Energy (Wales) http://www.sundog-energy.co.uk/ Filled in online enquiry form on Feb 28. They replied on March 10; they only operate in NE and NW regions of the country and are therefore unable to issue a quotation.
- Altenergy Ltd (London) http://www.alternergy.co.uk/ sales@alternergy.co.uk Not contacted yet?
- Inherent Energy Ltd http://www.inherent-energy.com/ @InherentEnergy info@inherent-energy.com Not contacted yet?
- All Eco Energy (Solihull) http://www.allecoenergy.com/ info@allecoenergy.com Completed online enquiry form on Feb 28.
- SIG Sustainable Solutions http://www.sigss.co.uk/ Completed online form on 28 Feb. They replied on 1 March, saying that they would contact me again with more specific information.
- Segen http://www.segen.co.uk Impressive online estimation form filled in, with request for more information, on March 3. They replied instantly with a guide and stating that they have passed our details to Sufficient Energy.
- Sufficient Energy (Norwich) http://www.sufficientenergy.co.uk/ info@sufficientenergy.co.uk Segen's reseller in Norfolk and Cambs. They received our enquiry on March 3, and should be in touch soon. Jon Bell called on March 5, referred from Segen. MCS and REA registered. After basic discussion, they emailed a survey form and will call next week for an appointment. Neal Shave called on March 9, to locate us on Google Earth (thought we were 1/4 mile down the road, at a lorry park!), and arranged an appointment for March 16. Following a successful site survey, we finally received a quote on March 26: £12700 for a 2.88kWp (16 x NU180 Sharp mono-crystalline) producing an expected 2,357 kWh per year. Jon Bell made courtesy call on 21 April.
- Cawoods.net Ltd (Bourne) http://www.cawoods.net/ mark@cawoods.net Referred for wind turbine repair on March 17. They provided a solar PV quote as well: 14 Poly-220 Schott Solar Modules 993x1685mm 220wp, generating 3.05kW peak, £14,000 + vat @ 5%, subject to a site visit.
- Green Home Energy Solutions (Norwich) http://www.greenhomeenergysolutions.co.uk/ info@greenhomeenergysolutions.co.uk Referred by a friend on March 20. Confusing (and mis-linked) survey forms; a phone call will be required instead. Called just before 5PM on March 25, left a message. Kerry called back later, and will visit us on Saturday. Is flexible in terms of solar panel choice; inverters are causing a supply problem at the moment. Fantastic visit from Kerry Durrant on March 27, where he showed me an SMA Sunny Boy inverter and four different types of panel. His company is covered by the REA (Renewable Energy Association). We received three paper quotes on April 1, for different types of solar module. The cheapest used 3.22kW of Yingli YL 230-P29b modules and an IG30 inverter, and cost £13500. A 3.36kW Kyocera system, using 16 KD210GH-2PU modules and an SMA SB3000 Sunny Boy inverter, came to £15500. Very similar to the Kyocera quote, 14 Sanyo HIT-240HDE4 modules and an SB3300 inverter had a peak rating of 3.36kW and cost £16800.
- DABBrook (Great Yarmouth) http://www.dabbrooksolar.com/ ed@dabbrook.com Contacted us on April 23: They have been providing Solar PV systems since 1998. MCS approved distributors / installers of Sharp, Mitsubishi, and BP Solar and also approved installers of most others manufacturers panels.
- NorthWestSolar.co.uk (Manchester) http://www.northwestsolar.co.uk/ info@northwestsolar.co.uk Contacted us on August 04: Just wanted to give you a quote from our company: 3.22kW of Yingli YL 230-P29b modules and a Fronius IG30 inverter including Installation plus Vat £12600. 3.36kW Kyocera system, using 16 KD210GH-2PU modules and an SMA SB3000 Sunny Boy inverter, came to £14200. 14 Sanyo HIT-240HDE4 modules and an SB3300 inverter had a peak rating of 3.36kW and cost £15900. We will get the MCS approval in three weeks. Please email us for further information. Regards Ricardo
For some real-life experiences of micro solar installations, I'd recommend that you have a read of uksolarcasestudy.co.uk: Is Solar Generation a good / viable investment for a home owner living in the UK?
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106 Comments
Add your commentRelated Reading
Solar PV Survey
What did you have installed, if you don't mind me asking?
STILL GIVES 11.7% ROI SO ITS A CRACKING DEAL STILL
time to start thinking positive about pv again life goes on after the cuts
great returns at 21p thats why we got a system but even better at 21p !!! happy days xxxx
Would anybody like to install a 16 panel 250w Sanyo HIT solar system for me for under 10K.
Better to sell it to me than be stuck with it after 7th Dec.North of Scotland.
Cheers
Fin
Thanks
Mhairi